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Definitions of the Balkans vary, but generally this area includes the countries lying partly or wholly within the Balkan Peninsula. Located between Western Europe and Turkey, the Balkan countries offer warm summer climes and a generally cheaper travel experience than Western Europe. Greece, Bulgaria and Albania are considered Balkan countries, as are the former Yugoslavian countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Parts of Romania and Slovenia lie within the Balkan Peninsula; these two countries are sometimes also considered part of the Balkans. Train travel to the Balkans from Germany is relatively inexpensive and offers an adventurous and scenic journey.

Germany to Belgrade

Belgrade, Serbia, is your rail gateway to the Balkans. From the southeastern German city of Munich, you have two options to reach Belgrade. The northern route uses the sleeper train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Budapest, Hungary. This train journey lasts just more than nine hours. You'll arrive in Budapest in the morning and can take an early-afternoon train onward to Serbia. The journey from Budapest to Novi Sad, Serbia, takes a bit more than six hours; from Budapest to Belgrade takes just under eight hours. The southern route from Munich to Belgrade gives you the option of seeing the impressive scenery during the daylight -- you'll pass through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. The Eurocity train "Sava" leaves Munich daily in the early morning, arriving in Belgrade just before midnight. The journey takes a little more than 15 hours, and you will need to change trains in Villach, on the border between Austria and Slovenia. You can leave this train in Ljublajana, Slovenia, or Zagreb, Croatia, before it reaches Belgrade.

South From Belgrade

From Belgrade, you can reach the cities of Bar or Podgorica, both in Montenegro, via daytime or overnight train. At the time of publication in May 2012, there were no international trains to or from Albania, but the Albanian capital,Tirane, can be reached by bus from Bar or Podgorica. Heading southeast from Belgrade, you can reach Nis, Serbia, in just under four hours -- this overnight train then continues a further six hours to to Skopje, Macedonia. From Skopje, there is one train daily to Pristina, Kosovo. The journey time is a it less than three hours. In February 2011, Greek authorities suspended international trains into Greece from other Balkan countries.

East From Belgrade

Traveling from Belgrade to Sofia, Bulgaria, takes just over 10 hours by overnight train. Dining and sleeper cars are not available on all overnight trains, so you should be prepared to sleep in a couchette if necessary and bring enough food and drink for the journey. From Sofia, trains run north into Romania or southeast into Turkey. The travel time from Sofia to Istanbul is about 13 hours.

Tickets and Border Crossings

Travelers from the United States can purchase a Balkan Flexipass in U.S. dollars before leaving home. This rail pass offers unlimited first-class rail travel in Romania, Montenegro-Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. You can buy a flexipass for a month or for five, 10 or 15 days. At border crossings between countries, you must show a valid passport with at least six months' remaining validity. At some border crossings -- for example, when entering Albania -- you may be required to pay a visa fee.